Our Sanctuaries

A Brief Introduction

Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi operates three wildlife sanctuaries throughout Bolivia. Professionals, interns and volunteers are welcomed at all of our sanctuaries to engage in rescue operations and the rehabilitation and care of wildlife.

Parque Machía is located in the town of Villa Tunari, in the Chapare region of Bolivia, between Cochabamba and Santa Cruz de la Sierra. It was our first sanctuary and it is property of Villa Tunari’s Municipality, with whom we have an agreement to use the land. This sanctuary mainly houses primates (capuchin, spider and squirrel monkeys), coatis, and birds (macaws and parrots).

Parque Ambue Ari lies just north of Ascensión de Guarayos, between Santa Cruz de la Sierra and Trinidad. It was our second sanctuary and the land is owned by CIWY thanks to the financial support from Quest Overseas and FIWY. The centre specialises in the care and management of felines (jaguars, pumas, ocelots, and others).

Parque Jacj Cuisi sits outside of Rurrenabaque and is our newest sanctuary. It is just a stone’s throw from Madidi National Park and is an ideal spot from which to enjoy the splendour of the Bolivian Amazon. This sanctuary houses 3 pumas, and we are currently building new enclosures to take in other species.

Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY) is a Bolivian Non-Governmental Organisation engaged in protecting wildlife rescued from illegal trafficking and the conservation of ecosystems. Across its three wildlife sanctuaries, CIWY has cared for thousands of animals over the years, providing for them a better quality of life and a future in their natural habitat. CIWY has been in operation since 1992 and is today recognised internationally for its work in wildlife care and rehabilitation.

Part of the extended CIWY family are Friends of Inti Wara Yassi UK and Friends of Inti Wara Yassi Australia, two international nonprofits founded and run by former volunteers to facilitate fundraising and permit tax-deductible donations for British and Australian taxpayers.

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Negra lived as a pet from a very young age with a family in Ascensión de Guarayos. She remained tied to a tree by a chain, surrounded by a group of pigs. The staff of Parque Ambue Ari used to see Negra every week when they went to buy fruits and vegetables for the animals at the sanctuary. They tried to explain to Negra’s captors that it is illegal to keep monkeys as pets and that they should release her to CIWY’s care. The family refused, until one day Negra freed herself, entered the neighbor’s house and caused great damage. After this, the family allowed CIWY to take Negra.

Negra initially came to Ambue Ari, but was transferred to Machía so that she could integrate into the group of spider monkeys there. Spider monkeys are very social animals and fortunately Negra was immediately accepted by the group.

Despite being over 20 years old, Negra is a very active monkey. Everything arouses her curiosity and she enjoys exploring the area for new stimuli. Her intelligence never ceases to amaze us, like when she learned to open bottles and carabiners with her opposable thumbs. Negra has a very strong character, a stubborn personality, and always gets what she wants. We loved seeing her blossom as part of the social group, after years of being tied to a tree.

A few years ago, Negra’s health declined. She lost interest in her surroundings and could barely move. The veterinary team discovered that Negra was suffering from congestive heart failure. She began a long but steady road to recovery, and thanks to the care of her volunteers and veterinarians, Negra is back to being her usual cheeky self. She takes daily medications to control her heart problem — she does not like the medication, so veterinarians have to engineer a thousand ways to hide the pills.

Negra is the oldest monkey in the sanctuary and continues to explore the jungle with the spider monkey group.

Please help cover the cost of Negra’s food and medications by sponsoring her today!

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Photo Credit: Ben Lybarger

Negra enjoys environmental enrichment at Parque Machía

Balú’s Story

When Balú was still a young cub, hunters killed his mother and captured him, with the intention of earning money for both. The poachers were attempting to sell Balú to a circus when law enforcement authorities confiscated him. The authorities brought Balú to Parque Machía, where we provided the necessary veterinary care and a large space to live a healthy life.

Balú has grown to weigh more than 120 kg, remains very patient and enjoys spending time with his volunteers. In fact, he has become one of the sanctuary’s most beloved residents.

Balú is a very calm bear that enjoys exploring his enclosure, climbing trees on rainy days and swinging from the treetops. Despite his large size, Balu is incredibly delicate when he peels bananas, eats grapes, and cracks open peanuts or coconuts. Like every good bear, he loves fish and honey.

Balú requires a special diet, which does not come cheap. Parque Machía spends more than US$130 each month on his food alone. A contribution towards the cost of his diet would be a great help for the future of Balú.

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Photo Credit: Claudie Ruel

Photo Credit: Isaias Mena

Photo Credit: Colm Moore

Video

Carolina’s Story

Carolina was confiscated from her captors at the Urkupiña Festival in Quillacollo. She arrived at Parque Machía with many health problems, including a fractured and mutilated wing.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for birds to arrive in similar conditions. Birds that are illegally trafficked are stripped from their natural habitats and smuggled in deplorable conditions. Traffickers often break their bones to prevent them from flying away. Over half of these birds die before being sold.

Due to her injuries, Carolina will never be able to fly again, and she often loses her balance and falls from branches. It is a great shame that freedom and flight were taken from her, but volunteers and staff at Parque Machía work very hard to give Carolina the quality of life she deserves. Carolina sleeps in her cage at night and spends the day outside exploring the area and interacting with other parrots.

Having lived with people most of her life, Carolina has copied many human behaviors – she screams, cries and sings. She often confuses her volunteers, who think they hear a person calling to them.

We would be very grateful if you would consider helping to cover Carolina’s food, daily environmental enrichment and medications by sponsoring her today!

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Photo Credit: Tiffany Grobert

Photo Credit: Irene Arellano

Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Video

Chuky’s Story

Chuky was abandoned at the entrance of Parque Machía in a cardboard box in 2009. Our veterinarians quickly detected that he was malnourished and had a fractured and deviated jaw, which prevents him from opening his mouth completely and chewing food properly. X-rays revealed a bullet fragment embedded in his jaw bone. With the passage of time, he has developed osteoarthritis in the jaw.

To prevent nutritional deficiency, Chuky takes Omega-3 supplements. Chuky also suffers from congestive heart failure and must take a daily vasodilator.

Chuky is a very charming monkey. Volunteers who have the opportunity to care for him do everything possible to ensure he lives a comfortable and happy life.

If you want to support Chuky by contributing to the costs of his medications and food, please sponsor him today!

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Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Iván’s Story

Iván was born in a zoo, where he lived for almost a year. He was brought to CIWY together with his father in 2008, due to lack of space and health problems. Iván suffers from motor incoordination and osteoarthritis, which causes him to move in a very particular way.

Despite his mobility challenges, he loves to explore his enclosure. Ramps and caves have been built in his living space to accommodate his condition. He especially enjoys enrichment with meat and eggs.

To remain active and walk without pain, Iván takes daily medications, such as chondroprotectors (which help regenerate cartilage), anti-inflammatories and other supplements.

We would be delighted if someone wanted to help maintain Iván’s quality of life by sponsoring him today!

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Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Ángela’s Story

Ángela was a victim of the illegal wildlife trade and arrived in Ambue Ari as an adult in 2011, after being sold as a pet on the black market. She wins the heart of every volunteer that spends time with her. She enjoys the company of volunteers, as well as daily walks through the jungle in search of termite nests and fallen trees filled with bugs. She is also provided with environmental enrichment to stimulate her senses and help her develop natural behaviours

Ángela is now an older coati who needs more veterinary attention. Your sponsorship will help us cover her food, veterinary expenses and the maintenance of her enclosure. Currently her costs total US$40 per month.

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Photo Credit: Reahn Aitchison

Bitón’s Story

Bitón came to Ambue Ari in 2010 in a tragically common predicament. Poachers had killed his mother, and he was sold as a pet while he was still an infant. He grew up without his mother’s milk, without a group of howler monkeys to interact with, and as a result he did not develop appropriately.

Because Bitón did not know how to behave like a wild howler monkey, our efforts to include him into a troop that could be released were futile. He will need to stay in the sanctuary for life, and this makes the time he spends with staff and volunteers all the more important, to ensure he has a desirable quality of life. Every day he leaves his enclosure at 7:30 am accompanied by his volunteer, with whom he climbs to the platforms installed at some of the trees, and he howls to communicate with other howler monkeys. This type of handling allows him to develop natural behaviours, such as foraging for fresh leaves, and climbing through the branches, and reinforces important social behaviours like grooming and self-grooming. Some volunteers have been lucky enough to see him interact with howler females at only a couple of meters away.

If you sponsor Bitón you will be helping cover his veterinary, food and enclosure maintenance expenses.

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Photo Credit: Harry Hazlewood

Kusiy’s Story

Jaguars are a Near-Threatened species. Their pelt, teeth, and skulls are used as trophies and sold on the black market. Kusiy is one of the many victims of illegal wildlife trafficking. Poachers decided to keep Kusiy as a pet – they held him in a small yard alongside dogs and cats in terrible conditions. Neighbours notified the authorities, who rescued him and brought him to CIWY in 2015.

Our veterinarians diagnosed many medical problems due to lack of maternal care and poor living conditions. He suffered from skin infections caused by a flea infestation, and excessive scratching had removed all the skin from his tail. He also had intestinal parasites, and at some point, he received trauma to his right eye which almost led to blindness in that eye.

Kusiy recovered his health at Machía, and once he was strong enough, he was transported to Ambue Ari, where he could enjoy a much bigger enclosure in the middle of the jungle. Now he can run, play and develop his strong jaguar character in a more natural environment. Our little Kusiy has transitioned into a strong imposing jaguar that steals your heart with just one look.

His volunteers spend time with him daily to ensure he receives exercise and mental stimulus. Your sponsorship will help us provide food for Kuisy. He eats 2kg of meat every day and receives environmental enrichment. This alone costs US$130 per month.

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Photo Credit: Claudie Ruel

Photo Credit: Claudie Ruel

Photo Credit: Ella Wood

Photo Credit: Ella Wood

Luna’s Story

Luna and her sister were confiscated by the local authorities of Sucre when traffickers tried to sell them in the local market. They arrived at Parque Machía with serious health problems, and unfortunately, only Luna survived.

Years later we relocated to Luna to Parque Jacj Cuisi, where she enjoys much more territory. She lives in a large enclosure and goes out on daily walks through the jungle. Luna is a very energetic and affectionate cat. She loves her jungle walks, which give her the opportunity to run, climb, stalk unsuspecting wildlife and rest quietly in a nearby stream.

The cost of Luna’s food is US$80 per month. Please consider sponsoring her today!

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Photo Credit: Gaspard Renault

Photo Credit: Courtney Merner

Marley’s Story

Marley is another victim of the illegal wildlife trade. Hunters killed her mother and sold her to a family at a market in Cochabamba. Soon after they brought her home, she showed serious health problems, such as seizures and diarrhea. The family brought her to a veterinarian, who explained that Marley’s condition was very delicate and that they should bring her to CIWY for proper care and veterinary treatment.

Marley arrived at Parque Machía when she was just two months old. Here she received a proper diet, and her health improved rapidly.

After four years at Parque Machía, Marley began to show signs of severe stress, particularly around loud noises, such as those made by passing trucks, tourists and neighboring dogs. Her handling became complicated and she sometimes refused to leave her enclosure for her daily walk.

For Marley’s wellbeing, CIWY decided to transfer her to Parque Ambue Ari, where there are no tourists nearby and less noise. Marley has improved immensely in her new home. She is calm and playful, and shows no signs of stress. Her new enclosure is much larger and she goes out daily with her volunteers to explore the jungle.

Marley is one of the most intelligent pumas that have passed through CIWY, she is very agile and seems to be aware of how beautiful she is. She loves to walk her new trails and she enjoys all the enrichment that volunteers prepare for her daily.

The cost of food and enrichment for Marley is US$80 per month. Please consider sponsoring this beautiful and intelligent puma.

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Photo Credit: Colm Moore

Video

Monchito’s Story

A family bought Monchito for his beauty and kept him as a pet, even though macaws are wild animals and should live freely in the jungle. They quickly tired of his cries and of having to clean his cage, so they brought him to Parque Machía in 2010.

The veterinarians discovered that Monchito’s right wing had been fractured and dislocated – a sadly common and cruel practice of captors to prevent birds from escaping. These injuries are irreversible and Monchito can never fly again.

Despite efforts to socialize Monchito with other birds of the same species, he does not know how to behave like a macaw and prefers to interact with volunteers, especially females. Monchito seeks constant attention and enjoys following volunteers around the area and saying “hello”.

If you want to help Monchito, please consider contributing to his costs as his sponsor.

Image Gallery

Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Pepa’s Story

Pepa was the pet of a family in Cochabamba, until she became too difficult to handle and the family brought her to CIWY. This is a familiar story, especially among Capuchin monkeys, which seem cute but become aggressive or destructive at an early age.

The family later returned to Parque Machía to ask for Pepa back, as they missed her and did not want to buy another monkey. We explained to them why they should not keep wild animals as pets: not only is it illegal, but it also harms the animal and poses a risk to family members, especially children.

Pepa continues to live in Parque Machía in one of the areas dedicated to Capuchin monkeys. She is very friendly and often regarded as a favorite among volunteers. She always surprises us with her intelligence and ability to solve problems. She is very protective of the other Capuchin monkeys in her group and exhibits strong loyalty to them.

CIWY spends over $US 40 per month on Pepa’s food and enrichment. Please consider sponsoring the friendly and playful Pepa.

Image Gallery

Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Photo Credit: Riley Taylor

Photo Credit: Guillermo Armero

Photo Credit: Colm Moore

Río’s Story

Rio was rescued when he was only a few weeks old by the park rangers of Madidi National Park. A family of hunters had killed his mother and kept the margay kitten.

Rio arrived with many health problems due to the lack of breast milk, the poor conditions in which they kept their captors and having ingested pieces of synthetic leather and plastic. He was vomiting and defecating pieces of synthetic leather for several days, which caused serious lesions in his stomach and intestine. He began to recover, but within a few days his condition worsened. All the lesions that his intestines had suffered resulted in a serious infection. He also presented with severe anemia, and a blood transfusion was needed.

He was kept in intensive care for many days, until he started to show signs of recovery. But the struggle didn’t end there. Due to the fact that he didn’t receive his mother’s milk during his first months of life, his calcium levels, along with other essential elements, were low. As a result, his bones were very fragile and, as a 4.5 month old infant, he broke a leg just from walking. He had to be operated upon immediately in order to walk again, but he will limp forever.

Río is now recovering from all of his injuries, but he will need supplements and medication for the rest of his life. You can help brighten his future by sponsoring him and contributing towards his veterinary expenses and food. Additionally, you would be helping us provide an appropriate enclosure for the needs of this lively margay.

When authorities confiscated Rupi from a family in Santa Cruz, they found him covered in mud and excrement. He was still a cub, confined as a pet in a small, filthy cage. The authorities handed him over to CIWY, who brought him to Parque Ambue Ari.

Unsurprisingly this young jaguar arrived in poor health and showing aggression due to fear. With a lot of attention and care, he improved rapidly. Rupi has grown into a gentle giant; he is our biggest feline and has a voracious appetite. He eats 3.5 kg of meat each day!

Rupi currently lives in a large enclosure with a 200 m2 perimeter, where he has plenty of space to explore and interact with his environment. He also enjoys roaming the jungle with the company of his volunteers and visiting a nearby river for a swim.

Rupi is now an elderly jaguar and suffers from chronic arthritis. To relieve his pain, he receives a daily treatment of anti-inflammatories and joint supplements.

Rupi’s monthly food and medicine costs are US$400. Please help us continue giving Rupi a good quality of life by sponsoring our king of the jungle!

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Salvador was kept as a pet and was housed with pigs. For this reason, he was confiscated from his owners, and handed over to CIWY to be taken care of. Sadly, Salvador arrived at Parque Machía with several infected wounds across his back, a fungal infection on his limbs and was missing a nail from his left-front paw. Due to his poor health, he remained in Machía’s clinic for several months.

Despite all the wounds afflicting him, Salvador made a full recovery and joined the rest of the coatis that live in the Small Animals Area at Parque Machía. Salvador is a very calm and affectionate coati, but it takes some time for him to get used to volunteers who work with him.

In 2017 Salvador was diagnosed with congestive heart failure and must take medication daily. Salvador is now old, but thanks to the medication provided to him, he continues to enjoy the jungle and the bugs that he finds there.

If you want to contribute to Salvador’s food and daily treatment, please sponsor him today for US$40 per month!

Image Gallery

Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Photo Credit: Claire Gilant

Sonko’s Story

Sonko spent the first six months of his life as a pet in a family’s home, until he became too difficult to manage. Fortunately, the family brought him to CIWY, and he spent nine happy years at Parque Machía before being transferred in 2013 to Parque Jacj Cuisi, where he enjoys even more space and tranquility.

Sonko is one of the calmest and friendliest felines and can be very expressive. He loves exploring his jungle trails in the company of his volunteers. He is now an old puma, so he needs daily supplements to help improve his mobility and quality of life.

Parque Jacj Cuisi spends over US$108 each month on Sonko’s food and supplements. Please consider sponsoring Sonko to help to cover this expense.

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Sonko the puma enjoying the sun at Parque Jacj Cuisi

Sonko the puma grooming himself at Parque Jacj Cuisi

Sonko rests near a stream at Parque Jacj Cuisi

Titus’s Story

In 2017, Titus escaped from a hotel in Villa Tunari, where he had been kept on display as a tourist attraction. Shortly after, he was found wandering the streets of the village. Bolivian authorities and CIWY staff members rescued him and brought him to Parque Machía.

Titus was later transferred to Ambue Ari, where he currently lives in a large enclosure filled with jungle and a lagoon he loves to swim in. He possesses a beautiful, gentle nature, and he’s very intelligent (he has even learned to open the doors of his enclosure with his nose).

Volunteers provide him with food and environmental enrichment daily. His specialised diet was designed by our veterinarians to ensure his nutritional needs are met. Because he was deprived of his mother’s care as an infant, he didn’t receive the essential nutrients and calcium needed to grow into a strong, healthy adult. As a result, his hind legs did not develop properly.

He needs regular veterinary checkups and nutritional supplements in the amount of US$70 per month. You can help him by sponsoring him today!

The puma sisters Inti, Wara and Yassi were barely a week old when poachers killed their mother and sold them on the black market of Potosí. All three cubs were in a terrible state of health when they arrived at Parque Machía, where they received veterinary attention and epilepsy treatment.

They were later transferred to Ambue Ari Park, to a very large enclosure in the middle of the jungle. Unfortunately, Inti passed away a few years ago from natural causes.

Currently Wara and Yassi live together and enjoy swimming in the river and walking through the jungle with their volunteers. The sisters love to play and chase each other. They are very dependent on one another, and it is a unique experience to watch them interact.

Their food and the care needed for their condition costs US$140 per month. Please help these two sisters stay together, healthy and happy!

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Wara at Ambue Ari

Wara; Photo Credit: Reahn Aitchison

Yassi at Ambue Ari

Yassi; Photo Credit: Ella Wood

Terms & Conditions for Our Gift Cards

Purchase and/or use of a CIWY gift card constitutes acceptance of these Terms and Conditions; therefore, we recommend that you read them carefully.

Gift cards remain the property of Comunidad Inti Wara Yassi (CIWY), who maintains the right to cancel the card in situations where deemed necessary.

Gift cards may be redeemed at any one of CIWY’s three sanctuaries in Bolivia: Parque Machia, Parque Ambue Ari or Parque Jacj Cuisi.

Gift cards may only be used once (for 15 consecutive days if a 15-day package has been purchased or for 30 consecutive days if a 30-day package has been purchased) and at only one sanctuary.

Gift cards may not be exchanged for cash or redeemed against the purchase of another card. The card is not a cheque guarantee, credit, debit or charge card.

Gift cards can be purchased with a value of US$310 for a 15-day volunteer package or US$510 for a 30-day volunteer package.

A 15-day or 30-day volunteer package has the same entitlements as those purchased upon arrival to the corresponding sanctuary. This includes certain meals and accommodation only. The user of a gift card will still be required to pay any security or cafe deposits.

The gift cards may be purchased in your own name or as a gift for someone else.

CIWY reserves the right to update and change these terms and conditions at any time. This does not affect your legal rights.

Validity

A CIWY gift card is valid for a period of 36 months from the date of purchase, after which time any remaining balance will be removed and the card will become invalid and no longer available for use.

Governing Law and Jurisdiction

These conditions are governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of Bolivia. You agree, as we do, to submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Bolivian courts.

Why should I purchase a Gift Card?

Not only is this a promise of future travel, it is also an opportunity to plan for a life-changing experience caring for rescued wildlife in the Bolivian Amazon. By purchasing a gift card, you are making critical funding available now to be put to use immediately.

Simona’s Story

Simona arrived as an infant in 2019, after being kept as a pet by a family and put for sale in the market of Ivirgazama, Cochabamba.

After a period of quarantine and medical evaluation, Simona was introduced to the semi-free spider monkey group at Parque Machia. She was very curious and not afraid to interact with the rest of the monkeys through a mesh. In just one month, Simona was released to fully join the spider monkey group!

Now Simona plays freely with the other monkeys and behaves like a wild spider monkey: climbing trees and looking for food. In addition, she is already starting to forget her previous behaviors of screaming and tearing her hair. We are very pleased with her speedy rehabilitation!

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Simona, a Spider Monkey at Parque Machía, looks at the camera

Simona enjoys some veggies at Simona, a Spider Monkey at Parque Machía, looks at Parque Machía

Baby Howlers’ Story

Poachers often target howler monkeys for their meat and their young. They shoot an adult in the treetops, and when the mother falls to the ground they pull off her baby, which is still clinging to its mother’s body. The adult will be sold for its meat and the baby as a pet or an attraction.

Ambue Ari specialises in the care of young howler monkeys and runs a successful re-release programme. For those that arrive very young, the first few months at the sanctuary are critical. Deprived of their mother’s milk and care, baby monkeys need round the clock care to recuperate.

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Photo Credit: JP Miller

Gift Aid

Friends of Inti Wara Yassi UK (FIWY UK), a charity registered in England and Wales, manages donations so donors resident in the UK can take advantage of the government’s Gift Aid scheme. Click here for more information about Gift Aid on the program’s official webpage.

The scheme allows us to claim back 25p from HM Revenue and Customs for every £1 that you donate to us, at no extra cost to you.

Please note that any Gift Aid claimed will be treated as unrestricted funds.

Am I eligible to claim Gift Aid?

Your donations are eligible for the scheme if you are a UK taxpayer and you are currently paying Income Tax or Capital Gains Tax that is equal to or more than the tax deducted from your donations.

How do I participate in Gift Aid when making my donations?

If you donate online, simply make sure you tick the Gift Aid box and enter your house number and postcode in the boxes provided.